Transfer standout Alonza Barnett III looks to ignite a winning culture as dynamic dual-threat mobility stabilizes the Knights' offense and signals a return to postseason contention.
The UCF Knights' losing days may be over next season, as Stewart Mandel of The Athletic predicts the team to finish 7-5 (4-5 Big 12).
A 7-5 finish would break a two-year streak of losing seasons, and UCF would return to a bowl game. The 2023 Gasparilla Bowl loss to Georgia Tech was the Knights' last bowl appearance.
Mandel highlighted one player who could be the catalyst for success for Year 2 of the coach Scott Frost era: quarterback Alonza Barnett III.
He said Barnett is a better fit for the scheme that benefits mobile quarterbacks. At James Madison, he threw for 2,806 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions, adding 589 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 127 carries last season.
The Knights have stability they didn't have last year. Injuries forced four different quarterbacks to take the field: Cam Fancher, Tayven Jackson, Jacurri Brown and Davi Belfort.
Jackson became the most consistent starter, but was a clunky fit in the offense. The former Knight preferred to stay in the pocket and go through his progressions rather than extend plays with his legs. He totaled 85 yards on 54 carries.
Frost said he is excited about UCF's starting quarterback. Barnett did not participate in spring camp to nurse minor injuries and has caught up quickly in fall camp, looking like "a million bucks," according to Frost.
The JMU transfer took the program to the College Football Playoff as a No. 12 seed, uplifting the team in his final season. He's in a position to elevate another school at UCF, as part of the Maxwell Award Watch List.
The Maxwell Award is handed to the nation's best player who has elevated their team and the broader landscape of the sport. Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the honor last year en route to helping the Indiana Hoosiers win the national championship.
Expectations for the Knights have varied among media outlets, but one constant remains: they must start winning like a Big 12 team.
Most of the team has set its goal for the year: winning the Big 12 championship. It is a lofty goal, but Barnett believes the team has the players to achieve it.
He said the conference is wide open, highlighting a different champion every season; embracing a "Why not us?" mentality.
The journey to a winning season is tied to Barnett's on-field performance. Frost said the team will go as far as his starter will take them.
